by Darren Horton

Created on: August 19, 2011   Last Updated: August 26, 2011

When he was just a few weeks old, having exhausted the minds of the other, older cats, Jonah had turned to the wisest of the cows on Sidcup Farm - Magic - for guidance.  Magic listened and answered his questions with good grace, for she too, was interested in the world that existed beyond the confines of post and wire.

Magic had gleaned most of her knowledge from the other animals, from passing birds, hedgehogs, rabbits, mice and rats; even conversing with insects if she could get close enough to hear them.  

Although cows fight amongst themselves, and can seem quite aggressive when they do so, they would never intentionally attack or harm another living creature, except in self-defence.  Cows, therefore, are recognized as peaceful and safe to talk to.  

Cats, on the other hand, are vicious killers.  Jonah could  never hope to glean knowledge from creatures that feared for their lives in his presence.  When you’re considered a quick snack (if you’re a little fluffy rabbit for example) you don’t go sharing pleasantries with a cat.

Jonah learnt much from Magic; things he otherwise wouldn’t have been privy to.  Like the fact that moles are blind or that birds fly south for the winter, although not all do.  He observed the humans and saw the repetitiveness of their existence.  He recognised why humans and cattle were able to live so easily alongside one another.  Both species like routine and grow accustomed to it.  Everything has to be done in the same way, at the same time of day, without deviation.  No sudden unexpected turn or shock to the system.  Just routine.  Harmony.  

Harmony was a word Magic used a lot.  She said that cows and humans lived in perfect harmony.  In return for milk the humans provided food, shelter and protection from predators – harmony.  Jonah wasn’t so sure, but he didn’t argue the point out of respect for Magic, because she was his friend and mentor, and because she was considered to be wise.

It had taken only six months for Magic to teach Jonah everything she knew.  Now Magic went to him for help.  Jonah felt awkward when Magic asked for advice, secretly not wanting to be smarter.  He felt he belittled Magic by knowing more.  

As a kitten he’d revered her, still did, only now he knew things that Magic didn’t, terrible things.  He wanted to tell her the truth about her so-called ‘harmony’ with humans.  But he couldn’t.  He loved her too much to destroy her world.  After all, this was the cow that’d saved him from drowning in a water-trough as a kitten.

Magic wasn’t stupid though.  She knew Jonah was much smarter now than he had been as a kitten, and that he kept secrets from her.  She didn’t begrudge his secrets; after all, he was a cat - secrecy was a feline trait.  Letting off great gusts of methane was a bovine trait.  You couldn’t expect cattle not to fart.  You are what you are.

Jonah was licking his paws and grooming himself when he heard Magic calling.  Not the five moos for an emergency, just a single moo.   No matter.  Even a whisper from Magic would be enough to have him running.  

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